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Bicycling France: Normandy & Brittany

History abounds on this biking vacation that visits the now-tranquil WW II beaches like Omaha and Arromanches, rendered famous by D-Day; Cancale, the home of Louis IVX’s favorite oysters; Saint-Malo, the legendary “City of Corsairs”; and Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Why You'll Love This Tour

Overview

Bicycling France: Normandy & Brittany

Breathtaking countryside and fascinating history alike unfold along the scenic pathways of Normandy. We’ll experience it all up close, as only a bicycling vacation allows. This unique itinerary touches on memorable World War II landmarks, takes in the Benedictine abbey at Mont St-Michel and visits medieval towns such as Bayeux, with its famous tapestry, and fairytale Dinan. We’ll also meet the people who call this region home, as we sample delicious Calvados cider, fresh oysters from Brittany and a picnic lunch at a local farm. And all along our way, we’ll be charmed by the rolling farmlands and picturesque villages of this historic region of France.

Cultural Highlights

View the famous 11th-century Bayeux tapestry

Cycle through rolling farmlands, fragrant orchards and picturesque country villages

Discover Arromanches, a coastal town that played a vital role in the D-Day landings

Experience D-Day on a guided tour of the famous Omaha Beach

Pay homage to war casualties at the American Cemetery

Explore La Haye du Puits, site of another fierce World War II battle

Brush up against everyday life at a local market

Meet an award-winning cider maker – and sample his wares

Visit the 11th-century abbey in the town of Lessay

Tour medieval Dinan with a local guide

Explore Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a local guide

Sample Brittany’s famous fresh oysters

Stay at a hotel converted from a Norman fortress

What To Expect

This tour offers a combination of easy terrain mixed with moderate hills. Our VBT van support shuttle is always available for those who need assistance. Ideal for beginning and experienced cyclists.

Air Package Plus Single Supplement: $675 | Land Only Single Supplement: $495

Please note: Web Special savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Standard Terms & Conditions apply when purchasing this trip. 2015 Prices include all airline surcharges and Government taxes and fees. Ask our Tour Consultants for details. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. Prices are based on preferences selected above, including meals and sightseeing as specified in What’s Included. All prices are subject to change. Departure dates and prices shown may be updated several times daily, and apply to new bookings only.

Itinerary & Map

Or, Expand All Days

DAY 1: Depart from home / Fly overnight to Paris

Depart from home for Paris, France. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

DAY 2: Arrive in Paris

Upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill in a PIR form before leaving the customs area; VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Please make sure that your VBT luggage tags are attached to your bags. This helps the representative identify you.

After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative or driver, who will be holding a VBT sign. Your representative will welcome you to France and arrange for your transfer via taxi or van to our Paris hotel (a drive of approximately 60 minutes, depending on traffic). At this time, please verify with your airport representative the time of your transfer tomorrow to Bayeux. If you are delayed in meeting your VBT representative at the CDG Airport, please call 06 72 07 59 24 or 06 15 15 15 25 from within France. Outside of France, call +33 672 07 59 24 or +33 615 15 15 25.

VBT provides you with City Information that includes information and recommendations for what to see and do in Paris. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or to begin exploring the “City of Light” on your own.

Hotel: Pullman Paris Bercy

DAY 3: Transfer to Bayeux

VBT No-Air Package guests: Meet your fellow travelers in the lobby of the Hotel Pullman Paris Bercy at 8:45 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. departure by private coach to Bayeux. Travel time is approximately 3.5 hours, depending on traffic. If you prefer to make your own way to Bayeux, at your own expense, hotel details are listed in your final documents. You will meet your VBT Trip Leaders in the hotel, Bayeux. Please contact this hotel to advise of any travel delays or changes that will result in your missing the 3:00 p.m. safety and bike-fitting session, and the staff will pass your message on to your VBT Trip Leaders.

VBT Air Package and Pre-trip Extension guests: After breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby at 8:45 a.m. to join a private coach transfer to Bayeux, departing at 9:00 a.m. Travel time is approximately 3.5 hours, depending on traffic. Meet your VBT Trip Leaders in Bayeux.

After settling in, you’ll have free time to have lunch on your own and to discover the medieval city of Bayeux and its famous 11th-century tapestry. Also highly recommended is a visit to the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum.

Please note: If you are staying at our alternative hotel, Château de Sully, the transfer will first stop in the center of Bayeux, where you will meet your Trip Leaders and have free time for lunch, etc., before shuttling to the hotel. Your luggage will be delivered directly to the Château de Sully.

At 3:00 p.m., your Trip Leaders will conduct a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride, which takes you from the hotel into the countryside.

This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome reception, followed by dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll cycle through rolling farmlands and picturesque country villages to the coastal town of Arromanches, which played a vital role in the D-Day landings. For it was here that the Allies built one of their famous Mulberry harbors – a portable, temporary structure that facilitated the transfer of troops and supplies – the remains of which still can be seen at low tide today. Learn more about the harbor, and the historic June 6, 1944, landings, at the D-Day Museum, which you’ll have time to explore on your own. You might also visit Arromanches 360, a circular theater showing a fascinating film that uses both wartime footage and modern images of the area to tell the story of D-Day and its aftermath.

After our visit and lunch, you can either cycle or shuttle back to our hotel.

DAY 5: Visit Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery with our local guide

This morning, we cycle through the verdant countryside, past fragrant orchard fields and old stone farmhouses, to Omaha Beach, perhaps the best-known D-Day landing site. You’ll have free time for lunch here before we join Guillaume Marie, a World War II expert and our local guide. His passion for his subject will be evident as he leads us along these now-tranquil shores and shares with us the dramatic events that once took place here. Code-named “Operation Overlord,” the D-Day landings were the largest military operation in history, and the beaches of Normandy bore the brunt of the invasion. It was Omaha that witnessed the most intense fighting, as nearly 7,000 boats hit the beaches along this coastline, pouring tens of thousands of Allied soldiers onto French shores in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944.

We’ll then cycle the short distance to the American Cemetery, a 170-acre, meticulously landscaped memorial overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. The site contains 9,387 perfectly aligned white crosses and Stars of David marking the graves of the brave American servicemen and women who perished during World War II. Guillaume will again provide insight and answer questions.

Later we’ll transfer to our hotel, La Ferme des Mares, on the outskirts of Saint-Germain-sur-Ay (a drive of about 1.5 hours, depending on traffic). The building harbors a unique history: Once an ancient Norman fortification, it later became a sprawling country farmhouse before being transformed into a hotel. This evening, dinner is at our hotel.

Hotel: La Ferme des MaresMeals: B, DDaily Options: 22 miles (35.5 km)

DAY 6: Explore rural Normandy

On our ride today, we’ll enjoy a close-up look at life in rural Normandy. We’ll pedal along a scenic route, passing fertile pasturelands dotted with grazing cows and half-timbered country manors. We’ll stop at the town of La Haye du Puits. After the D-Day landings and the liberation of several of the surrounding towns and villages at the end of June 1944, the American troops headed south. The Germans, seriously reinforced, waited at La Haye du Puits, and a fierce battle, lasting more than a week, ensued. The human loss on both sides was extremely heavy, and a monument commemorating the sacrifices of the American 79th Division and commemorative stones for the 82nd Airbourne and the 90th Division can be seen in the town.

We will also explore the town’s weekly Wednesday market. A variety of local producers bring their wares to sell, and our Trip Leaders will purchase a few delicacies for our picnic lunch later today.

Our ride then continues through country roads banked by the famous hedgerows of this region, to the farm of Alain Dauget, an award-winning cider maker. Since the 1600s, Normandy has been known for its exceptional pommes (apples) and the distinctive beverages they produce, including cider and Calvados, the famous apple brandy that shares its name with the region. During our visit, Alain will show us how his apples are harvested and pressed, then allowed to ferment, to produce cider – and, of course, share with us some samples! A picnic lunch prepared by our Trip Leaders will follow.

We’ll then continue cycling to the small town of Lessay, with its interesting Abbey dating to 1056. Learn how it was bombed in 1944 by the Germans before they retreated from the town. We’ll then cycle back to the hotel.

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and transfer approximately 2½ hours to Dinan, a fairytale-like medieval walled city perched high atop a hill. Here we meet a local guide for a 1-hour walking tour along the narrow cobblestone streets of its medieval center, to admire its Gothic church.

After free time for lunch, we will be reunited with our bikes at the port of Dinan and begin cycling along the River Rance. Our ultimate destination is Saint-Malo, a beautiful medieval walled city along the Brittany coast. En route, we’ll stop in Saint-Suliac, a charming village known for its quintessential granite homes, draped with fishing nets.

We’ll continue cycling to Saint-Malo, the legendary home of French corsairs, or privateers – and our home for the next two nights. Our hotel is located outside the walled Old Town, resting at the edge of the beach. It features several spa and therapy rooms, including an indoor, seawater swimming pool.

Late in the afternoon, discover Saint-Malo’s Old Town on your own, then end your evening in one of the city’s numerous small restaurants and creperies.

Today’s journey takes us along the beautifully rugged Brittany coast to the tiny fishing port of Cancale, known for its superior huîtres (oysters). In fact, King Louis XIV was reportedly so enamored of these briny bivalves that he had fresh oysters brought daily from Cancale to Versailles. We’ll have the opportunity to taste these acclaimed huîtres for ourselves, along with the locals, during a visit to an oyster market.

After free time for lunch, our afternoon ride takes us back through the countryside to Saint-Malo.

VBT No-Air Package guests: You are welcome to join our full-day transfer, via Mont Saint-Michel, to the hotel at Roissy, CDG Airport, Paris. Arrival time is expected around 5:30 p.m. Or you may make your arrangements to leave the hotel at any time that is convenient. Checkout time is 11:00 a.m. Trains depart from Saint-Malo to Paris Montparnasse or Paris CDG Airport via Rennes. You are responsible for all transfer arrangements. We recommend you ask your VBT Trip Leaders or the hotel for assistance in making any travel reservations at least one day in advance.

VBT Air Package guests: After breakfast, say goodbye to your VBT Trip Leaders and depart for Paris via one of the most visited monuments in France: Mont Saint-Michel.

Upon arrival, walk to the nearby tourist information center and meet our local guide, who will accompany you across to the cone-shaped islet in the Gulf of Saint-Malo, connected by a causeway with the mainland.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island of Saint-Michel is best known for the spectacular and well-preserved Benedictine abbey that sits at its peak. The abbey is surrounded by the winding streets and architecture characteristic of a medieval town. Small houses, shops and street stalls are found on its lowest level. Above these stand the monastic buildings, many of which date from the 13th century and are considered outstanding examples of Gothic architecture. The entire islet is crowned by the abbey church, which soars roughly 240 feet (about 73 meters) above sea level.

After free time for lunch on your own, rejoin the shuttle and transfer to our hotel, located near Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris (a drive of approximately 4.5 hours, depending on traffic).

This evening is free for you to dine in the hotel’s restaurant. You may wish to stroll through the park into Roissy village and have dinner on your own in one of the restaurants there.

Hotel: Hotel Mercure Paris Charles de Gaulle AirportMeals: B

DAY 10: Depart for home

After breakfast*, transfer by shuttle to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris. Please ensure that you are ready in the hotel entrance area at the designated transfer time. The shuttle is complimentary for hotel guests and runs approximately every 30 minutes. Please ask hotel reception for exact times. Upon leaving the bus at the airport, make sure that you follow the signs for flight departures.

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the front desk to verify the times when breakfast is served.

Meals: B

Download Itinerary PDF

Hotel Mercure Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

The 4-star hotel Mercure Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is in the heart of Charles de Gaulle Airport and provides a free airport shuttle service. It features a fitness room and a heated indoor pool overlooking the hotel's gardens. Savor gourmet French and international cuisine at the hotel restaurant, or tapas and cocktails in the trendy bar, whose wine list was created by Olivier Poussier, the World's Best Sommelier 2000. Computer terminals are available in the hotel lobby. The décor of its spacious guest rooms and suites were inspired by the world of Parisian high fashion. All are non-smoking and have a 40-inch LCD TV with satellite channels and free, high-speed WiFi access. Each soundproof room features air conditioning, tea- and coffee-making facilities and a minibar.

Château de Sully

17th-century property with a swimming pool and elegant restaurant. Fitness center with sauna, hot tub, and indoor swimming pool, whose sliding windows open out onto a stunning garden. 13 rooms in the chateau and 9 rooms in the nearby manor.

Grand Hotel des Thermes

Situated at the edge of the English Channel, Grand Hotel Des Thermes is the perfect spot to unwind after a day of biking. Since 1881 it has been a holiday retreat for European Royalty and the Grand Hotel des Thermes continues that tradition of excellence to make your stay exceptional. As a guest you’ll enjoy free access to the swimming pool, sauna, fitness area. The hotel boasts a popular spa with a selection of treatments, a bar and a restaurant. Complimentary WiFi is available in the lobby.

La Ferme des Mares

Offering country chic in a former fortified Norman farm that’s been converted into a luxury hotel, La Ferme des Mares is a stylish hideaway where you’ll always find the warmest of welcomes. Resting by quiet salt marshes, the hotel is just minutes from beautiful sandy beaches. Spend an afternoon walking along the coast, or stay a bit closer to your room and pick flowers at the hotel’s pleasant garden. Each of La Ferme des Mares’ rooms features its own bathroom (complete with hair dryer and complimentary bath care products), flat-screen television, complimentary WiFi Internet access, telephone, black-out blinds and luxurious soft furnishings. The boutique hotel also boasts its own, in-house restaurant.

Pullman Paris Bercy

The Pullman Paris Bercy lies at the heart of the Bercy Village pedestrian complex of Paris, just a stone’s throw from the Grande Bibliothèque and Palais Omnisport stadium and near the Bastille and Marais districts. Indulge in the hotel’s restaurants and bar, and then work it off in the sauna and fitness center. Your air-conditioned room features a cable/satellite television, telephone, minibar, coffeemaker and in-room safe. WiFi Internet access is available for an additional fee.

Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With LOw-Cost Trip Extensions

Pre-Trip Extension - Paris

2 nights for only $345

2 nights at the Hotel Pullman Paris Bercy

Daily breakfast

City Information

Airport transfers

There will always be Paris—but seldom an opportunity like this one: To spend two days at leisure here with your international airfare already included. Experience the splendor of the Eiffel Tower glowing against a night sky … embark on a romantic cruise on the Seine … stand in awe under the giant arches of Notre Dame … admire the Mona Lisa and other treasures of the Louvre … and so much more. And nowhere is there more sophisticated dining, shopping and entertainment than here.

Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Single Supplement: $295

DAY 1: Depart from home / Fly overnight to Paris

Depart from home for Paris, France. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

DAY 2: Arrive in Paris / Begin your Pre-trip Extension

Upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill in a PIR form before leaving the customs area; VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Please make sure that your VBT luggage tags are attached to your bags. This helps the representative identify you.

After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative or driver, who will be holding a VBT sign. Your representative will welcome you to France and arrange for your transfer via taxi or van to our Paris hotel (a drive of approximately 60 minutes, depending on traffic). At this time, please verify with your airport representative the time of your transfer to Bayeux, where you will begin your main trip. If you are delayed in meeting your VBT representative at the CDG Airport, please call 06 72 07 59 24 or 06 15 15 15 25 from within France. Outside of France, call +33 672 07 59 24 or +33 615 15 15 25.

VBT provides you with City Information that includes information and recommendations for what to see and do in Paris. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or to begin exploring the “City of Light” on your own.

Hotel: Pullman Paris BercyMeals: B

DAY 3: Independent exploration of Paris

Today, see for yourself why Paris has inspired poets, lovers, emperors and artists for centuries. Start with a stroll through Bercy Village, which consists largely of small wine warehouses from the late 19th century that have been converted into shops and restaurants. Continue into the adjacent Parc de Bercy, which starts right at the exit of the Metro station and extends all the way to the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy. It's quite a huge park and very well-organized, with small lakes and plenty of hidden pathways to explore.

Then, use Metro line 14, from Metro station Cour Saint-Emilion, and within a few minutes you will be at Chatelet, Pyramides or Madeleine to continue your exploration of the city center and all its attractions.

Hotel: Pullman Paris BercyMeals: B

DAY 4: Independent exploration of Paris / Join VBT Air Package guests

Take another day to discover Paris on your own. VBT Air Package guests arrive throughout the day.

Hotel: Pullman Paris BercyMeals: B

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